Paul Lam, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice on Wednesday addressed concerns about the ban on social media platforms under the national security law, following a month-long consultation on the “Article 23” legislation.
The respective legislation aims to target new offenses distinct from the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 after the protests in the city.
A public consultation document disclosed suggestions from citizens, with one proposing the removal of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube from the Hong Kong market, while another recommended the ban of messaging applications Telegram and Signal, describing them as a hotbed of crime.
‘The city has no intention of prohibiting the existence of social media platforms under the proposed law’, Secretary for Justice Lam assured the lawmakers.
He said that the focus is on addressing the use, abuse or misuse of these tools to spread content that threatens national security.
Lam stated during a legislative meeting, “What we are targeting are the use, abuse, or misuse of these tools to spread speech that can endanger national security. We are not targeting social media per se.”
Security chief Chris Tang restated Lam’s sentiments, assuring that the southern Chinese finance hub would not ban specific social media platforms.
Notably, people in Hong Kong can access platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter), even though they are blocked in mainland China for regular users.
The Hong Kong government is expected to introduce a draft bill related to the national security law as early as next week.
Concerns have been raised by rights workers, foreign businesses, and diplomats who are scared that the new law may limit the flow of information and further restrict freedom of speech and other rights.
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